Oil-testing device



Feb. 12 ,-1924.

W. L. PLUCK ET AL Filed Sent. 7. 1923 #1 lnPluLJt andj gzggarllluelt.

INVENTOR WITNESSES 35m fimzhwu/ ATTORNEY Patented Feb, 12, 1924,

TES PATENT QFFICE.

OIL-TESTING DEVICE.

Application filed September 7, 1923. Serial No. 661,410.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILBUR L. Punk and HowARD J. PLUoK, citizens of" the United States, residing at McGuifey, in the 8 county of Hardin and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Oil-Testing Device, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to devices for test- 16 ing oil or other liquids in containers, and is especially adapted for testing the condition of the oil in the crank cases of automobiles.

The object is to provide a simple, compact and easily operated device which may be readily applied to the pet cock of a crank case, after the hood is raised, and actuated to open the said cock for the purpose of inspecting the condition of the oil therein.

Another object is to provide means in such 20 a device which will catch the oil, as it flows from the cock, and prevent the same from falling upon the floors of garages, etc., said means consisting of a cup rigidly carried at the end of an operating handle and provided with a white enamel lining to expose impurities in the oil after the device has been withdrawn from the machine and the cock closed.

A further object is to provide anti-splashing means in connection with the cup which receives the stream of oil as it flows from the horizontally disposed pet cock and directs the same into the depending cup'below.

A still further object is to provide means for turning the pet cock from the opposite or outer end of the handle of the device, said means being always in position for engaging the turning head of the valve stem and automatically acting to close the valve, after be- 40 ing manually turned to open the same.-

' A final object is to provide means for introduction into the oil passage in the valve or cock for the purpose of removing or dislodging accumulations therefrom without the necessity for-reaching into the relatively cramped quarters in which the pet cock is located.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,- forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not to be confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as specifically pointed out in t a ended claims.

In the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of an automobile engine including the oil pet cock and showing the improved device applied thereto for the purpose of testing the oil in the crank case. t

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the cup and longitudinally through the operating handle, the latter being partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 83 of Figure 2.

Figure 4: is a top plan view of the oil receiving cup and showing the relation of the same to the pet cock, thelatter being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the valve actuating stem and cleaner removed from the device.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the device as shown in Figure 2.

The pet cock 1 is usually located in an inaccessible place within the hood of an automobile, there being insufiicient room for an operator to reach with one hand to hold a cup at'the spout of the cock or valve and with the other hand to turn the same for extracting a quantity of the oil to inspect its condition, as said cock is generally attached to the crank case at a low point.

With the use of the present invention, this difliculty is overcome, and the operator is enabled to reach the valve by means of an operating handle and to open the valve and catch a quantity of oil in a container, and then to close the valve and withdraw the container for an inspection of the oil.

The device comprises a tubular handle 2 of sufficient length to reach the cock and to extend to a point for easy manipulation,

the said stem or handle 2 haying its inner end enlarged as at emana inga counterbore a The lower portion of the tubular enlargment 3 is extended forwardly and merges into a depending cup 5, preferably formed integrally therewith and having its inner walls coated with an enameling material, preferably white, so as to facilitate detection of impurities or foreign matter in the oil withdrawn from the crank case.

A valve operating rod 6 extends through the handle 2 and has its outer end looped to form a turning handle 7, the inner end of said rod being secured to a turning fork S. The fork is spaced from the closed end of the counterboi'e, and a coiled spring 9 surrounds the rod and has one end anchored in the enlargement 3 and the other end secured to said fork. The tendency of the spring is to normally maintain the fork in a vertical position and consequently in alinement with the vertically disposed valve actuating head 10, when said valve is cut ofi, it being understood that the valve itself is in a horizontal position with the head 10 located on the outside thereof. By turning the rod 6, after the cup .5 has been positioned below the cock 1 and the fork 8 is in straddling relation to the valve actuating head 10, the cock is opened and the flow of oil therethrough contacts with an upstanding lip or wing 11, which is formed by extending that side of the cup upwardly above the cock, as clearly shown in the drawing. The oil is thus caused to drop back into the cup or container without danger of spilling any of the same on the floor, and when a sufficient quantity has been. allowed to flow, the handle? is released and the coiled spring 9 causes the rod 6 and fork 8 to turn back to normal position to close the passageway through the cock and stop the flow of oil, whereupon the cup 5 together with its contents may be removed from the cock and readily inspected, the detection of impurities being facilitated by the white or light colored lining of the cup.

An upstanding pin, 12 rigidly mounted on one member of the fork 8 and having its free end pointed, may be inserted into the passageway through the valve prior to opening the same to free any accumulations that may be present therein, said pin being prevented from interfering with the turning of the fork by reason of the cut away portions 13 of the sides of the handle enlargement 3, as will be readily seen, and the lower portion ofthe-enlargement 3 is provided with a pocket 14 to allow the actuating head 10 to be turned about its axis to open and close the valve.

From the foregoing it will be seen that anseful and durable tool or device has been provided, which is especially designed for use around garages where it is necessary to make an inspection of the oil in the crank cases of automobiles,said device being easily applied to the-stern of the pet cock, the

latter quickly opened and the flowing oil caught without spilling any of the same and carried to the light for an inspection thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described comprising an elongated handle, an operating rod mounted therein, means at the outer end of the rod for turning the same, means at the inner end of the rod for engaging the stem of a pet cock, and a cup carried by the inner end of the handle in depending relation to the pet cock for catching oil flowing from the pet cock.

2. A device of the class described comprising an elongated handle, an operating rod mounted therein, means at the outer end of the rod for turning the same, means at the inner end of the rod "for engaging the stem of a pet cock, and a cup carried by the inner end of the handle in depending relation to the pet cock for catching oil flowing from the pet cock, said cup having an upstanding lip or splash plate formed on the upper open edge of the cup and opposite the mouth of the pet cock.

3. A device of the class described com prising an elongated handle, an operating rodhaving bearings in the handle and eX- tending the full length thereof, a cup carried at one end of the handle and depending at right angles thereto, a fork carried at the end of the rod adjacent to the cup and adapted to straddle the head of a valve stem for turning the same to open the valve when the rod is rotated, said cup being supported beneath the valve.

4. A device of the class described comprising an elongated, tubular handle, an operating rod extending through the same and having an operating means at one end for rotating the rod, a cup carried at one end of the elongated handle, the latter being joined to the upper edge thereof, an upstanding lip or splash-plate formed on the upper, open edge of the cup and parallel to the said handle, said cup being adapted to be held below a pet cock with the splashplate opposite the spout thereof, a fork carried by the rod and adapted to straddle the head of the valve stem, a spring surrounding the rod adjacent to the fork and adapted to normally hold the latter in position to engage said head when the valve is closed.

3. A device of the class described comprising an elongated, tubular handle, an operating rod extending through the same and having an operating means at one end for rotating the rod, a cup carried at one end of the elongated handle, the latter being .joined to the upper edge thereof, an upstanding lip or splash-plate formed on the nppeigopen edge of the cup and parallel to the said-handle, said cup being adapted to be held below a pet cock with the splashplate opposite the spout thereof, a fork oarbe introduced into the said spout to free ried by the rod and adapted to straddle the the passageway therein.

head of the valve stem, a spring surround- In testimony that We claim the foregoing 10 ing the rod adjacent to the fork and adapted as our own, We have hereto affixed our to normally hold the latter in position to signatures.

engage said head when the valve is closed, WILBUR L. PLUCK.

and a pin carried by the fork and adapted to HOWARD J. PLUCK. 

